Influence of tungsten carbide tool wear on resulting joint during friction stir welding of titanium alloys

Abstract

The effect of tungsten carbide tool wear during friction stir welding of titanium alloys on the resulting weld joints is analyzed. It is shown that the tool geometry changes as a result of the tool wear during welding. A degradation of the joint macrostructure is demonstrated, and a correlation between the joint strength and the tool pass length, expressed as a measure of tool wear, is illustrated.